Remains and Inscriptions

Remains and Inscriptions.

(see image) Citadel of Zion, Jerusalem.(From a photograph by the American Colony, Jerusalem.)

(see image) PANORAMA OF MODERN JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT OF OLIVESArcheological research in Jerusalem was really commenced in 1838 by the American Edward Robinson, who was followed by Count de Vogüé, Sir Charles Wilson (1864-67), and Lieutenant Warren (1867), the latter two working in the service of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Of recent years much has been done by Clermont-Ganneau, Baurath C. Schick, Frederick J. Bliss, and the Jesuit fathers. In 1900 the "American School of Oriental Research in Palestine" was founded by the Society of Biblical Literature in conjunction with the "Archeological Institute of America." On Nov. 15, 1903, the German Palestine Archeological Institute was opened at Jerusalem. The English Palestine Exploration Fund has a museum and library in the Bishop's Buildings near the Tombs of the Kings. The débris is sometimes 100 to 125 feet deep; and excavations usually uncover some antiquities. Among the more important may be mentioned Robinson's Arch on the western side of the Haram, 39 ft. from the southwestern angle. Warren found the remains of the other end of the arch, which had a span of 42 ft., and which was probably part of an aqueduct carrying water to the Temple area. The remains called "Wilson's Arch" were found in front of the present Gate of the Chain. It also had a span of 42 ft. The southern wall of Jerusalem, partly laid bare in 1875 by Henry Maudslay, on the property of the English School, was accurately determined 1894-97 by F. J. Bliss. In 1871 Clermont-Ganneau discovered a stone from Herod's Temple with an inscription in both Greek and Latin (comp. Acts xxi.). The Siloam inscription was found in 1880 by the Rev. Mr. Klein. An unfinished pillar, probably intended for the Herodian Temple, is still to be seen in the Russian quarter. A second pillar has been discovered 1 ¼ miles northwest of the Jaffa Gate ("P. E. F. S." 1899, p. 213). On a rock-cut wine-and olive-press found in "Abraham's Vineyard," northwest of Jerusalem, see ib. 1902, p. 398. A number of Hebrew gravestone inscriptions have been found, mostly in the outskirts of the city, and of a period not earlier than the Roman. These are mostly inscriptions upon ossuaries (see Chwolson, "C. I. H." p. 76; Lidzbarski, "Ephemeris für Sem. Epigr." i. 187, 312; "Repet. d'Epigr. Sém." i., Nos. 374, 382, 421, 422, 429-435). Special reference may be made to that of the Bene Hazir at the entrance to the socalled St. Jacob's grave (Chwolson, l.c. p. 64); the inscription in Syriac and Hebrew of Queen Helena in the Tombs of the Kings ("C. I. S." ii. 156); the inscription upon a lintel ("Repet. d'Epigr. Sém." l.c. No. 373); and that of a somewhat later date found below the Al-Akṣa Mosque (Chwolson, l.c. p. 96).

Reference must be made also to the large subterranean quarry called the "Quarry of Solomon" or "The Cotton Grotto," about 100 paces east of the Damascus Gate and 19 ft. below the wall. It is about 100 ft. long and 150 ft. deep. From this quarry was obtained much of the stone of which Jerusalem was built. The cavern is supposed to represent the "Royal Caverns" of Josephus ("B. J." iv. 2; see Cyrus Adler in "J. Q. R." viii. 384 et seq.). Remains of an aqueduct have been found which formed part of a remarkable system of water-works extending about 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem. The Arabs call it "kanat al-Kuffar." It contains a peculiar siphon constructed partly, as the Roman inscriptions show, in 195 during the reign of Septimius Severus ("P. E. F. S." 1901, p. 118).

Jerusalem